Does the treatment of HIV need to be started as soon as it is detected in blood test ?

Question

Or one can wait till appearance of symptoms?

Answer 1

This is something you would need to talk to your doctor about. Some times if the virus has just began to grow in your body the Doctor may choose to wait. It's true that the new drugs do amazing things, but you have to take them to have an affect. You don't want to wait to long,Talk to your doctor.  

Answer 2

No, as soon as the virus is detected. It already takes a few months for HIV to show up in  your blood. Some people go 10 and 20 years without symptoms and live practically normal lives. Others have symptoms and go on to develop AIDS, it all depends on the person. So yes when the virus is detected.

regards:j~swift

Answer 3

yup the sooner the detection is found the better it stalls the affects and is actually much cheaper. meds are meant more to help prevent than to cure. good luck.

Answer 4

I believe the preferred treatment is to begin the broad-spectrum drug cocktail as soon as the virus is detected, to head it off before it proliferates in the blood and begins laying waste to the immune system.  If you wait for symptoms, you've essentially waited until the HIV has done irreparable harm and you have ARC or AIDS.

Answer 5

I would think that proper treatment, counseling, and nutrition should begin as soon as the disease is discovered.

Answer 6

I'll admit I don't know too much, but the whole point of HIV is that it attacks the immune system, you need to do everything you can to save it, if you wait till it's weakened it's too late

Answer 7

HIV needs to be treated immediately.    Waiting for symptoms will just mean that the individual is closer to full-blown AIDS.

HIV is the beginning of the disease, AIDS is the last stages, and Aids can be held off almost indefinitely with appropriate treatment.

Look at Magic Johnson, who has had HIV for years.    I just saw him doing a public service announcement on television about HIV/AIDS, and he looks healthy and fit.      

With appropriate treatment and a healthy lifestyle, HIV isn't an automatic death sentence anymore.

Answer 8

yes right away